It’s that time of year when those pesky insects come out from hiding only to drive you up the frigging wall.  I know they are out of control at my home, but that may be because I’m always leaving the door open to let the fresh air pass through.  Those bastard fruit flies are driving me crazy…they are all up in my glass of wine every time I go to take a sip!

Sorry, just a little bitter…

Anyhow, in the United States, some of the most common insects bites are caused by horseflies, blackflies, mosquitoes, fleas, bedbugs, and sand flies, to name a few.

None of the insects listed are poisonous.  The bite leaves a small, red, itchy bump because something in the spit from their mouth is irritating to your skin.  It is possible for the bite to turn into a large sore that is swollen and painful – this usually happens if you are allergic to the bite or if you get an infection from being bitten.  What’s crazy is that fleas can cause an allergic reaction without even biting…just walking across your skin is good enough for them (creepy!). 

After an insect gets to you, the best way to treat the bite is to clean it first (soap and water are fine, hydrogen peroxide works too).  If you want to, after cleaning the bite, rub on a cream, ointment or lotion (I prefer creams and lotions because they are less messy) like Benadryl, hydrocortisone, Calamine, or Caladryl.

If you have a lot of bites, then you can take an antihistamine by mouth like Benadryl, Zyrtec, or Claritin.  Benadryl should be best at clearing up the itching, swelling, and pain from the bite, but it causes drowsiness in a big way so Zyrtec or Claritin may be better choices if you need to stay awake!

If you have a severe reaction to the point where your throat is swelling and you are having trouble breathing, definitely seek medical attention right away.

Good luck, and let me know if you have any ideas on how to fix my fruit fly problem…..or you could e-mail me at cate@getpharmacyadvice.com with any questions about treating insect bites! 

While you are at it, fill out the form below to subscribe to our site.  All we need is your first name and e-mail address and you are golden!  We’ll give you the information you are looking for – we won’t let you down.

Here’s the form: